Sat 22 Nov 2025
The start of five back-to-back league fixtures in the lead up to Christmas (or at least, it was due to be five but soon to be bottom side Aylestone Athletic gave up a home walk over). 2nd vs 3rd. First game at Platts Lane for over a month.
So 31-0 down at half time wasn’t ideal.
And it started so well. A solid exit from kick off. An overthrown line out changing possession and then a searing break from returning Fly Half Mattie Lewis taking the home side to 5 metres out, and only a spilled carry providing relief. It wasn’t however ball in play which would be the root of the first 40s tribulations. Instead, it was ill-discipline. Three back-to-back penalty concessions allowed the 99’s the first three points of the game. Then a ball spilled from a clearing kick and their Fly Half would control and dot down for 10-0. Soon after it was 17. Their 10 was at the heart of it again, carrying off a scrum to tie in the defending Centres. The scramble defence couldn’t compensate in time, and their winger was over.
The first half penalty count was 8-4 to the home team (nice to win something). Two more of these penalties would give the visitors possession and territory in the Vikings 22. Eventually the strong carrying was too much – 24 nil. It wasn’t all just ill-discipline, not much was really going right for Sileby, even moments of seeming good fortune. After another penalty conceded the Lion’s failed to find touch, and the ball returned to establish possession. However buoyed by their bonus point securing first 35 minutes the home side returned and then some, three passes and their winger expertly finished by dancing around the cover defence. So 31-0 at half time.
So saw the introduction of the self-appointed ‘Bum Squad’™️. With the second half came the introduction of Prop Kian Wright, Second Row Aaron Thurlow and Back Rows Dave Collison & Harry Nichols. All had one directive, to change the game. A strong carry from Nichols was the first, winning the Vikings a penalty as the opposition didn’t return onside. Ash Rideout plopped it to the corner, threw to Collison and then touched down the resulting maul. 31-7.
Pressure can do funny things to people. Suddenly it was the 99’s earning the ire of the referee. Another couple of penalties and the Vikings had a tap and go in the red zone. Wright carried into contact. The ball was spun out to Mattie Lewis, who feigned to the right then danced to the left to dot down under the sticks. 31-14. A thunderous 50:22 later and it was again try time. Rinse and repeat, Rideout to Collison to Rideout. 31-21, suddenly we were beginning to believe. Then 31-26. Another rinse and repeat job, this time of the second try. Once again it was Lewis who would score, this time out wide after some sustained pressure.
Then three penalty kicks from Dave Maguire. Two converted, one struck the post. The result was a 31-point deficit overturned, the Vikings for the first time leading the contest. Then came probably the most pivotal moment. The 99’s finally managed to get a foothold, and off a scrum broke down the left-hand side. It was only three back-to-back try savers would prevent broken hearts; first from Full Back Jon Griffiths; then Winger Harry Greenbury, and finally Nichols. It allowed enough time for the defensive line to reform. Two breakdowns later and Centre Dan Clarke won the crucial turnover penalty for holding on. The lines could be cleared.
From there, for the first time, the win felt inevitable. With the final member of the Bum Squad, Prop Dave Tate, introduced a scrum penalty allowed one final line out 5 metres out. It’s well worth a watch (video by request). Clarke, Maguire, Moore & Greenbury all joined the maul to make those final critical centimetres. Jubilation as Rideout found the turf to complete his hattrick. Maguire would seal a remarkable comeback with the conversion, taking Leicester Lions out of losing bonus point range.
Can’t say we’re boring. 7 from 7 in the league.
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